After seeing a lifeline fall his way, Smith never looked back and went on to complete his 35th Test ton.
Australia's success has been compared with some of the nation's great Test teams led by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Steve Smith became the 15th member of Test cricket's 10,000-run club as he and opener Usman Khawaja smashed hundreds to help Australia rack up 330/2 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Since first opening the batting together in January 2023, the duo has been prolific in 50 overs cricket.
Smith needs just 315 runs to become the fourth Australian batter after Ricky Ponting (13378), Allan Border (11174), and Steve Waugh (10927) to reach the landmark of 10,000 Test runs.
Harry Brook matched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's career-high of 898 rating points in the ICC Test batting rankings.
This period saw big stars of the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev fade into the sunset while it was witness to the birth of slew of young Indian cricketers that made their mark home and abroad.
'He knows that Gabba will be a different wicket where he will get to face a lot of bounce and pace and that back foot game needs to be included in his game.'
Dubai witnessed a historic moment as the inaugural edition of the Global Chess League was held on Thursday.
The Australian team management chose Peter Handscomb ahead of Travis Head
Australian legends Adam Gilchrist and David Warner have little doubt that Indian players' psyche would have been scarred after the recent whitewash at home by New Zealand,
Virat Kohli survived a controversial catch call on the first ball he faced in the fifth and final Test at Sydney on Friday.
'I don't have a problem with the 'keeper talking, but not when the bowler is about to bowl. You've got to zip it then.'
The dawn of a new era had begun under Sourav Ganguly's aggressive leadership. With Ganguly and Coach John Wright at the helm India had transitioned into a force to be reckoned with.
Virat Kohli was not extended any special treatment, asserted India great Sunil Gavaskar, but some former Australia players felt the batting superstar got away lightly for his physical altercation with debutant Sam Konstas in the ongoing Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Having a left-arm quick of Singh's calibre gives the bowling attack the much-needed heft and variety. It's like having another bow in Team India's quiver, notes Vishal Menon.
The Australian media summed up their team's 295-run hammering by India in the opening Test with strong headlines such as 'Perth-etic Humiliation' and 'Monster Loss', former players called for some tough decisions, including sacking Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia's senior batter Steve Smith said the last three years have been the most challenging because of Kookaburra changing their ball in 2020.
When asked about Warne targeting him again, Waugh played down the incident.
Steve Waugh was seen in a shooting spree, taking shots of the Eden Gardens as well as those of the Bengal-Ranji fixture.
Steve made his debut on the Boxing Day Test in 1985 against India, while Mark played his first Test in 1991 against England at the Oval.
Steve Waugh captures the spirit of cricket in India during his many trips to the country.
'It is humanly impossible to sustain at the level at which he was playing between 2014 and 2019.' 'The dip had to come.'
Australia have brought back former captain Steve Waugh to help the squad prepare for the final stretch of the Ashes series against England as the tourists look to rebound from the painful third Test defeat at Headingley. Waugh had left the squad after the first two Tests as scheduled but has rejoined the group ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting on Wednesday.
'Would he have dominated during my era or before my era? I think he would.'
Waugh did not find any problems with Archer's stamina either after the Barbados-born 24-year-old bowled 44 overs and took 5-91 at Lord's.
Brook's average of 62.54 is the second highest in Test history among players with a minimum of 20 Test innings. His average is only second to the incpmparable Australian batter Sir Don Bradman, who scored 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94, with 29 centuries and 13 fifties.
The outgoing Australia captain is the most capped player in Test cricket history with 168 appearances.
Steve Waugh feels Kohli is now much more in control as a player and would be keen to lead the team to a series win abroad.
Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has slammed the ICC and top cricket boards, including the BCCI, for not caring about Test cricket after South Africa named a depleted red-ball squad for the tour of New Zealand.
Here's a quiz celebrating the Indian batting icon and to tell if you're a true Gavaskar fan...
Australian legend Steve Waugh exhorted the modern-day greats to embrace day-night Tests and lauded India for accepting the "challenge" of playing with the pink-ball during their tour Down Under later this year. India played their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh last November at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, winning the match quite comfortably with plenty of time to spare.
The former Australian captain said the Sri Lanka off-spinner's action is legal.
The Indian batting ace said Steve Waugh was at a different level as far as mental toughness is concerned.
Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh celebrated the harvest festival Vishu with locals in Kollam, Kerala, by lighting the traditional lamp to mark the beginning of New Year according to the local calender.
'I just can't see how they can bounce back (after) Australia whitewashed them on the third day. So 'no' is the answer -- four-nil to Australia'
'Dhoni will never go to a player and ask him what field you want.' 'He will want the player to learn from his own mistakes.' 'Rohit will put his arm around your shoulder and tell you, "This is what is expected from you, you can do this".'
Shamar's heroics and the Windies win saw congratulations pouring in from every quarter. And it also left Windies legends Brian Lara and Carl Hooper, both who are now broadcasters, in tears as videos circulated on X.
Banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith is likely to be welcomed back with open arms when he returns to club cricket in Sydney at the weekend.
10,660 runs, 32 Test centuries, most Test match appearances with 164.
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